How the Removal of a Private Doctor Sparked a Union at the Developer of Candy Crush

In early 2024, Activision Blizzard, now under Microsoft's ownership, sent an email to employees at its Stockholm office announcing the end of a popular company benefit, inadvertently sparking a union effort. Over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, last fall. This group has been recognized and is now in dialogue with company management to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will influence their work environment, policies, and benefits.

In Sweden, unions operate differently than in the U.S. Eligible workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of their company's organization status. Approximately 70% of Swedes are involved in a trade union, and the country has laws that are more favorable to unions. These unions negotiate sector-wide working conditions, including salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can offer additional benefits.

However, forming a union club and securing a CBA adds another layer to union membership in Sweden. When enough employees join the same union at a company, they can vote to establish a union board to negotiate a CBA. This agreement can secure workplace-specific benefits similar to U.S. union contracts, and local union boards can gain representation at the highest levels of company management, influencing major decisions. This is what has occurred at King Stockholm, following a trend seen at other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter, shared that union discussions were minimal before 2024. There was a Slack channel for union talks, but it was largely inactive, with only about nine or ten members.

However, in early January, employees received devastating news via email from management. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stockholm office had been granted a unique benefit: a free, private doctor for employees and their families. This doctor, reportedly chosen by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, became highly valued for her responsiveness, support during the pandemic, and empathy towards employees' health needs. When this benefit was abruptly terminated shortly after Microsoft's acquisition, with only a week's notice, employees were forced to quickly find new healthcare options.

The sudden change led to widespread discussion among employees, with many expressing their concerns in the Stockholm general Slack channel. "We had no bargaining power," Falck said, highlighting the potential of a CBA to negotiate with their employer.

In response, Falck revived the union Slack channel, which quickly gained traction, reaching 217 members. Over the next few months, the group organized and contacted Unionen representatives, leading to an official vote in October 2024 to form a union club with a union board at King Stockholm. IGN reached out to Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but did not receive a response.

Since its formation, the King union has met with Activision Blizzard HR to discuss communication strategies, receiving a neutral response, which aligns with Microsoft's public commitment to a neutral stance on unions. Falck and her colleagues understand that the private doctor benefit cannot be reinstated, but they aim to secure a CBA to protect other valued benefits from similar abrupt changes.

Falck emphasized the importance of protecting existing benefits through agreements, ensuring employee influence over future changes. "We have some benefits that are quite unique," she said, referring to bonuses and other perks from Microsoft that they wish to safeguard.

Other issues on the union's agenda include salary and information transparency, as well as protections around company reorganizations and layoffs. For Falck and her colleagues, the ultimate goal is to positively influence their workplace. Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak highlighted the value of unionizing in Sweden, where both parties have influence and can discuss matters at the table. He noted that unionizing helps employees share knowledge about their daily work, which is crucial for company decision-making.

Rybak also pointed out that Swedish labor laws favor employers, but unionizing helps employees understand and protect their rights, especially important in industries like game development with many immigrant workers. Falck mentioned that the union has already benefited from sharing information on employee rights, helping European and American game developers at King understand their entitlements and advocate for themselves.

For Falck and her colleagues, forming a union club at King was initially a reaction to an unpopular change, but it has evolved into a broader effort to protect the aspects of their job they cherish. "It's just a completely different world and a different company that we're getting used to. So we want to protect what is King, what is the culture, what are the benefits," Falck concluded.